Which occipital pattern can be elicited by having the patient scan a complex image?

The correct answer is the lamda wave pattern, which is observed when a patient scans a complex image. Lamda waves are a type of occipital rhythm that can appear when the visual cortex is engaged in processing visual stimuli. They are characterized by their frequency, typically occurring in the beta range, and are often associated with higher cognitive tasks and visual attention.

In contrast, other patterns like mu waves are typically related to motor activity and are observed in the central region of the brain, playing a significant role in movement and the observation of movement, rather than visual processing. Alpha waves are more related to relaxed wakefulness and can be attenuated by visual or cognitive engagement, but they do not specifically emerge from scanning complex images. Theta waves, on the other hand, are often associated with drowsiness, light sleep, or meditative states and would not be triggered by complex visual scanning.

Thus, when focusing on the specific task of visually scanning a complex image, the lamda pattern emerges as the correct response due to its direct relationship with visual processing activity in the occipital lobe.